Bahrain Heavy Vehicle Theory cheat sheet

Bahrain drives on the right; overtaking is on the left unless a vehicle is signalling a right turn.

Default urban speed limit is 50 km/h and rural highway limit is 100 km/h unless posted signs state otherwise.

Seat belts are mandatory for the driver and all passengers; children under 10 must use an appropriate child restraint.

Using a hand-held mobile phone while driving is prohibited; only hands-free use is permitted.

A red traffic light means stop before the stop line; a flashing amber means proceed only if the way is clear.

Drivers must give way to pedestrians already on a marked crossing and to traffic already circulating on a roundabout.

Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is an absolute offence with no legal blood-alcohol threshold.

Following an incident involving injury, the driver must stop, render assistance and notify police immediately.

Red circles with a white background indicate prohibitions; blue circles indicate mandatory instructions.

Triangular signs with red borders are warnings of hazards ahead; rectangular signs give information or directions.

A solid white centre line means no crossing or overtaking; a broken line permits crossing when safe.

Yellow kerb markings indicate parking restrictions; double yellow lines prohibit stopping at any time.

Octagonal red STOP signs require a complete stop at the line before proceeding, even when the road appears clear.

Inverted triangular YIELD signs require giving way to traffic on the priority road without necessarily stopping.

Direction arrows painted in a lane bind the driver to follow that direction at the junction.

Temporary yellow road markings override permanent white markings in a work zone.

The two-second rule sets minimum following distance; double it to four seconds in rain, dust or darkness.

Total stopping distance equals thinking distance plus braking distance; both rise with speed and load.

Blind spots must be checked by mirror and shoulder glance before any lane change or turn.

At night, dip headlights when following within 50 metres or when an oncoming vehicle is within 150 metres.

In dust storms or heavy rain, reduce speed, increase gaps and switch on dipped headlights, not full beam.

Approaching a school, mosque or market, expect sudden pedestrian movement and reduce speed early.

Defensive driving assumes other road users may err; always keep an escape route and cover the brake.

Tiredness impairs reaction time comparably to alcohol; stop and rest rather than pressing on.

Daily walk-around checks cover tyres, lights, mirrors, fluids, wipers, load security and brake air pressure.

Minimum legal tyre tread depth for heavy vehicles is 1 mm across three-quarters of the width and around the circumference.

Tyre pressures must be checked cold and adjusted for load; under-inflation causes heat build-up and blowouts.

Any defect affecting safety must be reported to the operator before the vehicle is used and recorded in writing.

Brake air pressure must build to the manufacturer's specified level before moving off; low pressure warns of leaks.

Coolant, engine oil and power-steering fluid levels are checked with the engine off and the vehicle level.

Windscreen washers, wipers and all lamps must function; a failed lamp makes the vehicle unroadworthy at night.

A defect log entry should record date, vehicle registration, defect description and the action taken.

Continuous driving must be interrupted by a break of at least 15 minutes after every 2 hours of driving.

Daily driving time for heavy vehicles must not exceed 9 hours, extendable to 10 hours twice per week.

A daily rest period of at least 11 hours must be taken within each 24-hour period.

A weekly rest of at least 45 hours is required, reducible to 24 hours with compensating rest later.

The tachograph records speed, distance, driving time and rest; records must be produced on request.

Manual entries on a digital tachograph must be made for any work or rest not recorded automatically.

Fatigue signs include yawning, drifting, heavy eyelids and missed signs; the only remedy is stopping to rest.

A short nap of 15 to 20 minutes is more effective than caffeine alone for temporary alertness.

Gross vehicle weight must not exceed the plated maximum; axle loads must not exceed their individual ratings.

Loads must be distributed evenly so that each axle carries its share; heavy items go low and over the drive axles.

Cargo must be secured with straps, chains or nets rated for the load; lashings should be checked after the first 20 km.

Loads must not project beyond the vehicle's sides or rear by more than the permitted overhang without marking.

Overhanging loads must be marked with a red flag by day and a red light at night at the rear extremity.

The centre of gravity should be kept as low as possible to reduce rollover risk on curves.

Tarpaulin covers are required for loose materials such as sand or gravel to prevent spillage.

Load security must be re-checked after any emergency braking or rough road section.

Air brake systems operate at roughly 8 to 10 bar; a warning sounds when pressure falls below about 4.5 bar.

A low-pressure warning requires stopping immediately; the spring brakes apply automatically when pressure is lost.

The parking brake is a spring-applied, air-released system; it engages when air pressure is depleted.

Engine braking and exhaust brakes reduce service-brake fade on long descents; select a low gear before the slope.

Brake fade occurs when drums overheat; the remedy is to slow down and use a lower gear, not to pump the pedal.

A daily brake test checks for air leaks, pedal feel and that the vehicle stops squarely without pulling.

Anti-lock braking systems prevent wheel lock-up; keep firm pressure on the pedal and steer during emergency braking.

Braking distance increases with load; a fully laden truck needs far more distance than an empty one.

Before coupling, check the fifth-wheel jaw is open, the trailer is at correct height and the parking brake is applied.

After coupling, perform a tug test and confirm the locking handle is secured and the safety catch engaged.

Connect the air lines and electrical cable in the correct order; check for air leaks and correct lamp operation.

Raise the landing legs fully before moving off and stow the crank handle safely.

When uncoupling, apply the trailer parking brake, lower the landing legs and chock the wheels before releasing the kingpin.

A trailer must never be moved with the kingpin unlocked; the tug test confirms the coupling is secure.

When reversing a trailer, steer the opposite way to the desired direction of the trailer and use mirrors.

Swing-out on turns must be allowed for; a long trailer cuts the corner and can strike kerbs or pedestrians.

At an incident, secure the scene first: switch off engines, apply parking brakes and place warning triangles.

Place a warning triangle at least 50 metres behind the vehicle on a fast road, further on a motorway.

Call emergency services with location, number of casualties and any hazards such as fire or spilled fuel.

Do not move an injured person unless there is immediate danger such as fire or oncoming traffic.

Control severe bleeding with direct pressure and a dressing; do not remove an embedded object.

For an unconscious but breathing casualty, place them in the recovery position and monitor breathing.

If breathing has stopped, begin chest compressions at 100 to 120 per minute and continue until help arrives.

A fire in the engine bay should be tackled with a dry powder extinguisher aimed at the base of the flames.

Any alcohol in the blood is an offence for a professional driver in Bahrain; the legal limit is effectively zero.

Alcohol slows reaction time and reduces judgement long before the driver feels intoxicated.

Prescription and over-the-counter medicines can cause drowsiness; check the label before driving.

Illegal drugs and impairing substances are prohibited; refusal of a test is itself an offence.

Medical conditions such as epilepsy, diabetes or heart disease must be declared to the licensing authority.

Drivers must meet vision standards; corrective lenses must be worn if required on the licence.

Illness, fever or severe fatigue raises accident risk; a driver unfit to drive must not start a journey.

Hydration and regular meals help maintain concentration on long shifts in hot climates.

Smooth acceleration and early gear changes reduce fuel consumption and emissions.

Maintaining steady speed and avoiding harsh braking can cut fuel use significantly.

Idling wastes fuel; switch off the engine when stationary for more than a short period.

Correct tyre pressures reduce rolling resistance and improve fuel economy.

Anticipating traffic flow and using engine braking saves both fuel and brake wear.

Removing unnecessary weight and roof racks reduces aerodynamic drag and fuel use.

Planning routes to avoid congestion lowers fuel consumption and emissions.

Regular servicing keeps the engine efficient and reduces harmful exhaust emissions.

A heavy vehicle driver must hold the correct licence class for the vehicle's weight and configuration.

The vehicle registration, insurance certificate and roadworthiness certificate must be valid and carried or available.

Operators must keep maintenance records, defect reports and driver hours records for inspection.

Driving licences carry an expiry date; driving with an expired licence is an offence.

Third-party liability insurance is mandatory; driving uninsured is a serious offence.

A tachograph record and any manual entries must be produced on request by an authorised officer.

Any change of address or medical status must be notified to the licensing authority.

Permits and load documentation must match the actual vehicle and cargo carried.